In the wake of Volkswagen controversy, the Indian Government has directed automobile engine manufacturers to submit emission reports for all engine variants and asked Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to find out from the German company whether vehicles fitted with software to evade pollution were also sold in India.
The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has written to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the nodal authority for implementation of the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP), to keep a close watch on emission levels of automobile engines.
“We have asked the Ministry of Heavy Industries to issue advisory to all automobile engine manufacturers to keep a close watch on emission levels of engines, particularly diesel engines,” said Vijay Chhibber, secretary, MoRTH.
“Emission norms shouldn’t be violated. All testing facilities are under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and hence it is their mandate to check and plug any loopholes as and when found. They have asked the automobile engine manufactures to submit emission conformation reports,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials from the heavy industries machinery also admitted to having stepped up action in the wake of the Volkswagen controversy.
“We have asked the ARAI to check up with Volkswagen and find out if this issue is applicable in our context. They are inquiring into the matter. We need to make sure these kinds of things don’t happen here,” said Rajan Katoch, Secretary of Heavy Industries Ministry.
Asked about steps being taken, he said, “We are studying the matter... If there are any regulatory issues here, they are looked at and plugged.”